Saturday, September 13, 2014

Slumpbuster

A game against Chivas USA was just what the doctor order for Sporting KC. After four straight losses, SKC got back on the winning track, handing Chivas their worst loss of the season winning 4-0 with four goals from four different players.

The opening of the game saw a back and forth affair with both sides having stretches of possession, but neither side able to really test the opposing goalkeeper. The best chance in that stretch fell to KC in the 27th minute. Graham Zusi played a great corner right to the middle of the box. Dom Dwyer had gotten in front of Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and got his head on the ball, but put the header wide of Dan Kennedy's goal. With Dwyer's form this season you would at least expect him to test the goalkeeper on that attempt. In the 39th KC finally grabbed the lead and it came on the counter. After some poor attempts to clear the ball KC finally settled the ball and quickly worked it up field. The ball ended up wide to Zusi near the haf way line. Zusi played a great ball over the top towards Dwyer who was racing towards goal. Dwyer let the ball bounce in front of him and continue down the field, which through off Kennedy. Dwyer continued to follow the ball and beat Kennedy to it, touching it past him and it rolled into the net to give KC the 1-0 lead and give Dwyer KC's single season scoring record. Chivas attempted to respond in the 44th with Felix Borja firing from long range, but it was easily pushed aside for a corner by Andy Gruenebaum. In first half stoppage time, KC doubled their lead. After some good possession, the ball came to Zusi who played a nice through ball for Dwyer. His first touch though took him away from goal. Dwyer recovered though and played a ball wide to an open Toni Dovale. Dovale took a touch into the box and then tried to curl a shot into the far corner. His shot hit the post and bounced back into the middle of the box. Benny Feilhaber was following the play and was able to get his foot up and knock the ball into the net for his fourth goal of the season and send KC into the half time break up 2-0.

Early in the second half, KC made it 3-0. Igor Juliao brought the ball up KC's right before playing a cross field ball to Zusi who was wide open. Zusi controlled the ball and cut to the middle. He dribbled across the top of the box before firing a shot that beat Kennedy and went into the net to make it 3-0. KC almost made it four just minutes later. After Zusi was fouled near midfield, Feilhaber took a quick restart playing Dwyer through on goal, but Kennedy got down well and made the save. Chivas had a great opportunity in the 62nd to pull a goal back. Akira Kaji played a great cross to the back post for Eric Avila. Avila raced onto the ball but first his shot well over the bar to keep them off the board. Dwyer had another good opportunity later in the half to make it 4-0, again played behind Chivas' defense, but this time he pushed his shot just wide of Kennedy's far post. Late on, KC finally did get their fourth. After some high pressure on Chivas' defense by Mikey Lopez, Hurtado tried to play the ball back towards Kennedy. The pass was read by substitute, Claudio Bieler, who raced back and intercepted the pass. He cut around Kennedy and from a tight angle rolled a ball into the net to make it 4-0 in the 87th.

Wizards Man of the Match - Graham Zusi - A goal and an assist and probably should have had at least one more assist. Took his shot well for his goal, a good game from the designated player.